God's Favor

“When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.” Genesis 39:3-4 The Lord’s favor rests on His followers who remain faithful to Him. It is humbling to know that God extends wisdom and grace to those who go hard after Him. Though someone is separated from loved ones by a long distance, the Lord is nearby to impart His calming presence. Rest assured Jesus brings success to souls who submit to His will. Moreover, favor with God leads to favor with man. A heart connection on earth takes place when there has been a heart connection in heaven. People of influence are on the look out for those whom they can trust. It is not a small thing to delegate management and leadership responsibilities—hence those with character are entrusted with more. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10). Therefore, stay faithful in your responsibilities as a servant leader at work and home. It’s a joyful attitude in the middle of junk that Jesus blesses. Your boss may be unreasonable, your spouse insensitive or your child disrespectful, but the Lord and discerning people see your humble heart and will reward you with respect, rest and responsibility. What are you to do when God prospers you and your family? What are His eternal expectations? Certainly the Lord looks for His glory to be revealed through a life that reflects praise and thanksgiving. When we smash the idols of materialism, sex and power replacing them with modest living, love and service—people want to know why. Questions about our “peculiar” lifestyle are meant to point people to Jesus. “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:11-12). So, instead of seeking the world’s favor—submit to God’s authority—and His favor will follow. Blessings become bountiful in a life that longs to love the Lord and people. As the moon is a reflection of the sun’s light, be a reflection of the Son’s light—you will illuminate the Lord’s ways to worldly wisdom and to wayward souls. The Lord is on the look out to extend His blessings on those who fear Him, trust Jesus and love people. “The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). Prayer: Am I in a position of humble obedience and trust, so I can experience the favor of God? Related Readings: 1 Chronicles 28:19; Isaiah 62:3; Luke 1:66; 1 John 2:8-10 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Forgiveness of Sin

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace” (Ephesians 1:7). The forgiveness of God is far-reaching and without limitation to anyone who believes. He forgives the worst of sinners and the best of saints. Atheists, adulterers, murderers, liars, the hot-tempered, and the mild-mannered can all receive the free forgiveness of their heavenly Father. The good, the bad, and the ugly are all candidates for God’s grace. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross bought us back or redeemed us from the penalty of sin. By faith in Him we no longer have to be burdened by our own indiscretions against almighty God. All sins of omission, commission, and ignorance can be laid at the foot of the cross and left for our Lord’s pardon. Have you been freed by His forgiveness? Will God forgive years of religious neglect? Yes. Will God forgive a life that lives for itself alone? Yes. Will the Lord forgive divorce, irresponsible living, and laziness? Yes. Will he forgive my chronic complaining, my bad attitude, and my tendency to gossip? Are my pride in my good works and my self-sufficiency covered by Christ’s blood? Yes, God will forgive anything that is an enemy of His grace. His death gives peace. “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19–20). Forgiveness is free to all who believe, but it came at a great cost in Christ’s death. God gave His Son for our salvation from sin. So have you personally appropriated faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If so, since your salvation do you regularly bow to Him in confession for the cleansing of your heart? Unconfessed sin clouds clear thinking. Since you have believed, you are rich in God’s grace and have a robust remedy for sin. Do you take advantage of your Lord’s forgiveness? As a Christian, do you sit daily at the feet of your Savior and receive freedom through His forgiveness? At the cross you were set free from the eternal penalty of sin, and now His forgiveness frees you from the guilt of sin. Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” (Acts 13:38). Prayer: Have I trusted Jesus for the salvation of my sins? What hidden sins do I need to repent of and confess to Him? By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Relational Equity

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10 Relational equity is the trust and goodwill we build up over time with those we love. The goal of other centered people is to make more relational deposits than withdraws. They serve more than they are served. They love more than they are loved. They honor more than they are honored. They care more than they receive care. They give more than they take. They generate emotional energy more than they withdraw emotional energy. They pray more than they request prayer. Yes, when we honor another above ourselves we grow our relational equity. When we are devoted to one another in love we develop our relational equity. But, what happens when we overdraw our relational equity? How are we to correct our misaligned expectations? There are two options. Either we make additional relational deposits by speaking their love language or they forgive our debt of love. Ideally, both of these options can by God’s grace, occur together. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22 Genuine affection flows freely like an underground spring regularly refreshes a lake or pond. Thus, quietly but deliberately look for ways to sow seeds of service into those the Lord brings into your life's path. Be a blessing in small things like reaching out to encourage a child of your adult friend. Lead them in Bible study. Perhaps you pray for a person who seems alone in their singleness. Pray for them to feel the camaraderie of Christ and the closeness of a community. Your deep heartfelt love is determined to love like Jesus loves. He loves: Sacrificially, yes. Sensitively, yes. Sacredly, yes. Sincerely, yes. Soothingly, yes. Secretly, yes. With a servant-spirit, yes! Indeed, the love of the Lord builds up relational equity in all who surrender to His heart of affection. The relational equity of Jesus is eternal. Because His love is everlasting, He never runs out of compassion for people. Thus, your devotion to Christ creates unending relational equity. Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2 Prayer: Heavenly Father, use me to invest in people with relational equity that points them to You. Related Readings: Psalm 133:1; John 13:34, 15:12; Philippians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 John 4:10 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Reality Check

For I can testify about them that are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. (Romans 10:2) Activity without reality leads to futility. This is a frustrating and demoralizing place to live. Finances can be like this, as you can sincerely spend yourself into false affluence. Reality is you have to pay for the assets that have been obtained by debt. Credit may cause you to check out of reality, but its consequences will roar back in real bills. Reality is you cannot continue spending more than you make. The only way for the math to work: income must exceed expenses. Debt may suspend reality for a time but will eventually come crashing down from the overwhelming weight of credit’s pressure. Finances are a reality check, for they are an indicator of God’s will. God speaks through money, or the lack thereof. Do not be afraid to wait and save before you spend. For example, take a low cost vacation you can afford instead of an extravagant one you can’t. Furthermore, be careful not to allow busyness to distract you from reality. Make sure you are engaged in the right activity, and are not just busy for busyness’s sake. Verify information before you take a person or circumstance at face value. Before you hire someone, call his or her references. Sincere commitment without collaborative understanding leads to dysfunction and anemic outcomes. This could not be truer than with religion. A religious zeal without engagement in reality becomes extreme, even fanatical. So go with God’s definition of reality, as He defines reality in His Word and validates it with His will. The most effective way to remain in touch with reality is to stay connected with Christ. Alignment with the Almighty assures reality. He is a reality check, along with wise counselors. This is why a humble and teachable spirit is a prerequisite to understanding reality. Do not allow your experience, success, and intelligence to blind you from reality. Ask questions and really listen for a reality check of where you are and where you need to go. People vote with their time and money, so don’t blame them if they are not responding, but ask them why. Most importantly, make sure your church activity is grounded in the reality of a relationship with God. Religious activity does not equal relationship. Spirituality without faith in Christ skirts the real need for repentance and redemption. Sincere spirituality based on wrong assumptions will get you into trouble. No amount of good deeds can substitute your need of a Savior. Confessing your sin and receiving Christ into your life is, in reality, the way to begin a relationship with Him. Relationship with God, by faith in Christ, is foundational to understanding the world’s realities. His perspective positions you to engage in reality with an eternal mindset. Prayer is your guide to what’s real; so go to God often for His reality check. Let Him define for you your need for change and maturity. Ask Him to use the realities of your situation to make you more like Jesus. Instead of denying or rejecting reality, embrace it. Reality is God’s reason for dependence on Him and others. Accept by faith the Lord’s reality check and rely on His grace. Activity grounded in reality is rewarding, so thank Him for keeping you in a place of blessing. Jesus stated this reality: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Direction From God

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.” Exodus 13:17-18 The Lord’s path for His people is not always a straight line from point A to point B. In His wisdom He may allow us to go through the wilderness, before we arrive at the promised land. He knows preparation precedes the blessing of the destination. He desires that we learn trust in Him—along the way to where He wants us to go. It’s when the Lord’s will is a non-linear route that we begin to doubt and wonder why He has led us through a desert experience. However, if life were that easy we could easily take credit for our successes and grow demanding and proud, instead of grateful and humble. Thank the Lord that He has you in a process that requires intense prayer and faith. He knows what’s best to grow your faith, so you are able to handle His blessings. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Do you find yourself in a wilderness, unsure of your next steps? Are you overcome with doubt and uncertainty? If so, do the next right thing and trust God with the future. Remind yourself of His history of faithfulness to lead you into the very best plan. The timing may not be to your liking, but you can trust the Lord that His timetable is for your best. If it’s a job transition—let go and let God—because He is your pilot to navigate the next steps. If it’s relational upheaval—figure God in—and He will figure it out. If you still wallow in anger from past hurt—get over it by God’s grace and forgiveness—and get on with your life. Above all, follow by faith your heavenly Father’s gentle leading. Remain in the palm of His protective hand, as you traverse up and down His trusted pathway. “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5). Lastly, make the Bible your roadmap for righteous living. It is in His holy writ that the Lord lays out clear boundaries as you travel through life. The route of His will involves exit ramps to rest, driving at night with limited vision and occasional car wrecks. But throughout your travels in this life keep an eye on eternity’s prize in the person of Jesus Christ. Keep your faith in Jesus for He will never let you down. Get directions from Him. “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations” (Revelation 15:3b). Prayer: How can I better let go and let God lead me along His best path for my life? Related Readings: Proverbs 12:28; Isaiah 55:8-9; 64:5; Jeremiah 32:19; Hebrews 3:8 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Do God's Will

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36 The fortitude to press forward in the face of resistance is the mark of a steady saint. God’s will is momentarily celebrated on the mountain top, but most of the time is lived climbing a rocky face or regaining balance along a slippery slope. Traversing up or down requires perseverance. Yes, it’s reassuring to walk with someone who has plodded along a similar path. They know when to go boldly and when to wait patiently. God’s will normally works out in a round about way. What is the will of God for you right now? You can’t go wrong doing the next right thing. Don’t be overwhelmed with what needs to happen six months from now, rather focus on living today to its fullest. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with faith and wisdom for today. Daily obedience leads to weekly goals, leading to monthly objectives, leading to quarterly milestones and finally leading to annual accomplishments. Doing God’s will today leads to doing God’s will tomorrow. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:27 For example, if you are a husband or wife begin each day praying for your spouse to feel loved by their Heavenly Father and loved by you. If you are a parent pray the same for your child. If you are single ask the Lord to give you a singular focus to trust and obey. Stay pure by being washed daily with the cleansing power of prayer and God’s word. If you are a supervisor at work ask those you serve how you can help them. God’s will is fully obeying Christ’s commands. Your Heavenly Father sympathizes with your tension over two conflicting options. He wants you to use this test to lean into His heart and mind. Maybe there is a third option He wants you to discover through the wise counsel of a trusted confidant. Make sure your motivation is not to run away from a problem or conflict, but to persevere as the Holy Spirit reveals what to do next. As you wait out an uncomfortable circumstance the reward of God’s promise awaits you. You do God’s will by doing the next right thing. Walk close with Christ and He will lead you in His will! Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:13 Prayer: Heavenly Father, lead me with thanksgiving into the next steps in Your will. Related Readings: Proverbs 20:7; Mark 3:35; Romans 1:10; Ephesians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Sharpened Skills

If an ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success. Ecclesiastes 10:10 Life is not meant to be full of endless activity and busyness, without pause it loses its edge. A life worth living is one that takes the time to sharpen its skills. Skill-sharpening is an investment that will serve you well the rest of your life. Do not settle for mediocrity, by God’s grace seek to be the best in your life roles. Your commitment to sharpen yourself is much like that of a farmer. A wise farmer will use his seasonal down time to upgrade, replace, and repair his equipment. He literally sharpens the tips of his plow, rebuilds the tractor engines, and upgrades and cleans his equipment. A prepared farmer will not only survive, but will thrive with this type of motivation to always improve. In the same spirit, there is a time to execute and a time to regroup and sharpen yourself for the next initiative. A person with sharpened skills is an effective tool in the hand of God. He wants to use you to your full potential. Your part is to continually improve. Your activities and work will produce more lasting results when you take the time to hone heaven’s gifts. God wants to use your life to cut through life’s issues the way a sharp knife slices through a juicy ripe tomato. A skilled concert pianist practices the piano. A skilled writer searches out new words and becomes engrossed in sentence structure. A skilled speaker learns how to understand his audience and communicate his point in a variety of ways. A skilled mom quizzes other moms on how to become a better mother. A skilled golfer continues to hit balls way after the tournament ends; he smashes the little white spheres into the night. So, seek out new ways to keep your mind sharp and engaged in new ideas. Read about and learn from wise leaders of the faith whose writings have stood the test of time. Books are tremendous skill-sharpeners. Join a book club to ramp up your commitment and accountability. You can attend seminars or pursue a graduate degree. Use a variety of tools to stay sharp. Sparks fly when steel is sharpened, which means there will be some discomfort and growing pains. You are either moving forward or shrinking backward; there is no standing still. As you sharpen your skills, you are moving forward. You are stewarding God’s talents and gifts to their fullest. Swinging at issues with a dull life will lead you to the brink of giving up. Sharpen your mind with the Word of God. Nothing sharpens a mind like wisdom from above. God’s principles are like a whit rock on a battered blade. He smoothes the jagged edges of your roughed up life. Like an axe that has become chipped and blunt over time, your life is refurbished by God till it regains its radiant and shiny silver edge. Discover your skills through assessments and the counsel of others. A hint: when you operate within your skill set, executing the plan is almost effortless. Stay sharp, and your skills may swing open some impressive doors. Wisdom says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29). By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunter